Running Point Season 2, Episode 8, “Gordons vs. McShays,” puts a family competition and an emerging love triangle on the same basketball court. This episode, written by Akshara Sekar and directed by Erica Oyama, gives Isla two really good and different love interests. It gives Jay a montage of reminders in his favor as he returns to Los Angeles (at least for a few days). Then, the episode introduces Scott Speedman as Luke McShay. The McShay family is a bit nebulous in comparison to the Gordons, which isn’t really a fair shot.
Well, that is, other than the McShays member played by actor and Kate Hudson’s older brother, Oliver Hudson. Again, Running Point refuses to miss when it comes to guest stars. The Gordons get better with the return of Ike Barinholtz as Cousin Bennie. Then again, his involvement in the game only comes as Running Point sidelines, literally and figuratively, Jackie with an injury.
Regardless, that game put two thoughts in motion. On the one hand, what a hilarious set piece to facilitate Tommy getting the ick with Sandy after Sandy starts having real feelings for Tommy. On the other hand, “Gordons vs, McShays” is so close to the season finale–one episode from the penultimate. This not-so-friendly game of basketball is a stark reminder of how rarely Running Point Season 3 spends time with the LA Waves on this or any court.
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Team Isla and Jay
Running Point has a whole season with Isla and Jay. The montage effectively fills in some gaps in their off-screen history. Still, timing remains their biggest obstacle, which Ali points out by reminding Isla that she just ended an 8-year relationship. Not to mention, Isla wants the Waves to win the whole thing, and Jay’s team is one of their biggest competitors. So, it tracks that Isla tries to clear her head by giving Jay his ring back. I love that she confidently says, “Thanks. I’ll get my own.” It’s also impactful for the camera to stick on Jay’s reaction. He’s on the show a lot less this season. Those insightful moments from Jay Ellis are important in knowing where the character stands.
Alternatively, it’s like the universe draws Isla and Jay together, whether it be at the coffee shop or him coaching the Gordons. Every frame of the latter couldn’t be more perfectly in-character across the board. It’s also fascinating that Cam is the one who tells Jay, “LA misses you. Something tells me you feel the same way.” With him, it’s easy to wonder if that’s more than a team-building moment.
Regardless, there will always be a basketball court between Isla and Jay, whether it be in competition or as a common ground she didn’t have with Lev. Given that they’ll be on opposite coasts, it’s good that “Gordons vs. McShays” lets them have a conversation that clears the air about more than just Keke Palmer. It is admittedly challenging to see a happy ending between them if they remain so far apart. The playoffs are only going to pull them further apart and on opposite sides, which does play into a forbidden love trope a bit.
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Team Isla and Luke
Isla and Luke, however, have more of an enemies-to-lovers trope working in their favor. It even extends to the sports with Isla & basketball and Luke & hockey. The chemistry is most certainly there between Hudson and Speedman. Unlike Isla and Jay, Isla and Luke don’t have an on-screen history, but they have an embedded history that Running Point conveys in that meeting scene. Even the lead-up to it works when Cam talks about going to high school with Luke. Then, Luke and the Gordons bounce off each other like people who have known each other their whole lives, which helps quickly build those dynamics.
Running Point signals Isla and Luke’s potential in their scene with Isla’s car’s tire. That’s where Hudson and Speedman’s chemistry comes to life. Their banter in that scene is easy and entertaining, and it finds its equal and opposite flirty counterpart on the basketball court. Isla checks Luke out at one point, and at another, he can’t help but smile when she scores against his family. “Gordons vs. McShays” lets all of that naturally culminate in Luke asking Isla out, with excellent blocking of Jay between them in the background.
Hopefully, this shape doesn’t unravel by the next episode. There are layers of potential to this. This new storyline is also such a great distraction for the audience (and Isla, potentially) from Cam going full villain. It pulls focus long enough for Cam to drop the other shoe. He controls the board with Al, reinstating Cam as president of the Waves. That twist, though expected, feels like something Running Point would hold for a penultimate episode or a season finale. So, it’s exciting to imagine what’s in store for the next two episodes.
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